

                   "Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire"
                      by James Montgomery, 1771-1854
                                Text From:
                            THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
               (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
        Unuttered or exprest,
        The motion of a hidden fire
        That trembles in the breast.

        2. Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
        The falling of a tear,
        The upward glancing of an eye,
        When none but God is near.

        3. Prayer is the simplest form of speech
        That infant lips can try;
        Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
        The Majesty on high.

        4. Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice
        Returning from his ways,
        While angels in their songs rejoice
        And cry, "Behold, he prays!"

        5. Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
        The Christian's native air,
        His watchword at the gates of death--
        He enters heaven with prayer.

        6. The saints in prayer appear as one
        In word and deed and mind,
        While with the Father and the Son
        Sweet fellowship they find.

        7. Nor prayer is made by man alone--
        The Holy Spirit pleads,
        And Jesus on th' eternal throne
        For sinners intercedes.

        8. O Thou by whom we come to God,
        The Life, the Truth, the Way,
        The path of prayer Thyself hast trod--
        Lord, teach us how to pray.

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        Notes:
        Hymn #454 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Luke 11:1
        Author: James Montgomery, 1818, alt.
        Composer: John Chetham, 1718
        Tune: "Burford"
        1st Published in: _Psalmody_
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
        by Marilyn F. Gardner and is in the public domain. You may
        freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any
        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the
        Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

                        E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu

        Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
           Phone: (219) 452-2148             Fax: (219) 452-2126
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